Over The Counter Aids

There are benefits to buying hearing aids without a prescription: they will be priced lower, and patients will be able to advocate for themselves and won’t have to submit to an audiological exam or worry about insurance reimbursements. However, many audiologists believe the bad outweighs the good.
Over-the-counter hearing aids are designed for individuals with very mild hearing loss, but without undergoing a comprehensive hearing evaluation from a professional audiologist, there is no way to know the degree of hearing loss. Those with severe hearing loss won’t receive the proper levels of amplification and might end up causing more harm in the long run.
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Childhood Hearing Screening
A hearing screening is used to identify individuals who may require a more comprehensive hearing assessment and/or medical management. Hearing screenings for children may take place in early childhood settings. Hearing screenings during childhood are vital for early identification and management of hearing loss. Hearing loss does not have to be severe in order to impact a student's access to auditory-based classroom instruction. Educationally significant hearing loss can be unilateral, bilateral, minimal in degree, high frequency, or long-standing conductive. -- READ MORE --
Adaptations of an Internet-Based Intervention for Tinnitus for Use in the United States
An Internet-based tinnitus intervention for use in the United States could improve the provision of tinnitus-related services. Although clinical trials of such interventions were completed in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia, their suitability for adults with tinnitus in the United States is yet to be established. The aim of this study was to improve the cultural and linguistic suitability and lower the readability level, of an existing program for tinnitus to ensure its suitability for U.S. English- and Spanish-speaking populations.-- READ MORE --
How our brain evolves to pitch
What makes humans so different from other primates? Though our brains are similar, it seems that they react differently to various stimuli. New evidence suggests that human brains "listen" for musical pitch, a preference that scientists have not detected in monkeys. -- READ MORE --
Links to hearing-related sites:
Summertime Hearing Protection
Summer is perhaps the noisiest season, full of outdoor concerts, festivals/parades, and sporting events. After more than a year of limited to no such activities, these events are returning in force. Noise pollution is also a more common complaint as the pandemic spurred people to invest in their homes, making renovations, landscaping upgrades, and other improvements to their house and yard.
How to safely pop your ears
Popping your ears is generally safe. It usually requires little more than moving your mouth muscles. Regardless of the technique you try, be gentle. If your symptoms worsen, stop trying to pop your ears and consult your doctor. -- READ MORE --
General Hearing Loss
Hearing loss that occurs gradually as you age (presbycusis) is common. About one-third of people in the United States between the ages of 65 and 75 have some degree of hearing loss. For those older than 75, that number is approximately 1 in 2. -- READ MORE --
Top universities for deaf students
For the more than 20,000 Deaf students who attend post-secondary educational institutions in the United States each year, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures they have access to this powerful weapon. -- READ MORE --
Kids and swim earplugs: What you need to know
For many families, splashing in the backyard or community pool or heading to the nearest beach to cool off in the water is a major part of summer fun. For kids with certain ear problems, swim earplugs are often recommended, but how do you know if your child needs them—and what types are the best?
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Hearing loss now hits 1 in 3 Americans over 65
Hearing loss that occurs gradually as you age (presbycusis) is common. About one-third of people in the United States between the ages of 65 and 75 have some degree of hearing loss. For those older than 75, that number is approximately 1 in 2. -- READ MORE --
Four common causes of temporary hearing loss in children
Which is better: Earbuds and Headphones?
Earbuds sit inside your ear and are very close to the ear canal, and they typically increase the volume by around 9 decibels. Headphones, however, sit outside the ear, so there is less natural amplification.
Headphones also block a lot of background noises. But with earbuds, distracting sounds aren’t dulled, and wearers often turn the volume control up to near dangerous levels. Not to mention that it is easy to find cheaply made earbuds at any convenience store or shopping center. Because of their poor quality, those earbuds only distort sounds which makes wearers turn up the volume even more.
If you believe your hearing has been affected by use of headphones or earbuds, call us for an appointment.